Woman stabbed, dragged by the hair and hit with baseball hat in Limerick assault

A WOMAN stabbed another woman, knocked her out with a baseball bat, dragged her by the hair into the middle of a road and left her in a “helpless situation”.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said CCTV footage of the incident was “very disturbing”.

Chantelle Ryan, aged 22, of Moylish Crescent, Ballynanty pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, production of a knife and a baseball bat, and endangerment.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Paddy Hogan.

Mr O’Sullivan said gardai received a report that a woman had received stab wounds in Moyross on April 22, 2020. The barrister said Ms Ryan and the victim arrived at a house in Cliona Park, Moyross at 5.55am.

“Twenty minutes later the victim was forcibly ejected. She remained on the property. Ms Ryan exited the property and stabbed the victim in the torso, arm and face,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

The victim remained in the yard where Ms Ryan struck the victim in the head a number of times.

“She offered no resistance. She remained in the vicinity. Ms Ryan came out of the front door, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out on the road. The victim returned to the property and entered the driveway. Ms Ryan appeared again with a baseball bat and hit her in the face and arms. The last blow appears to knock her out.

“She dragged the victim out on the public road. Ms Ryan comes back to check on her welfare. The victim gets up and leaves the area,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

Det Garda Hogan said they obtained a warrant to search the house. He said there was nobody there but a baseball bat was recovered upstairs.

Det Garda Hogan said Ms Ryan was later arrested and made full admissions. The victim suffered five stab wounds - in her back, chest, armpit, left eyebrow region and left side of scalp.

Mr O’Sullivan said it was quite a vicious assault followed by the victim being dragged out on a public roadway and “left in a helpless situation”.

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“It is fortunate there was no further injury,” said Mr O’Sullivan. The court heard the victim had contacted Ms Ryan earlier, they arranged to meet and attended a house party. Pat Whyms, barrister for Ms Ryan, said the victim had an argument with her boyfriend.

“Ms Ryan said the victim’s boyfriend alleged the victim had been cheating on him. He said he was going to cheat on her with Ms Ryan. Ms Ryan became enraged and a lot of it played out in the curtilage of the house,” said Mr Whyms.

Det Garda Hogan confirmed Ms Ryan gave a full account of what happened.

Mr Whyms put it to the detective that the incident was worse than Ms Ryan remembered.

“Yes, she didn’t want to watch the CCTV,” said Det Garda Hogan. Ms Ryan said, “Oh my God” as she watched what occurred.

Mr Whyms said Ms Ryan had been drinking and was not used to drink.

Judge O’Donnell said he considered what he saw on CCTV to be “very serious and very disturbing”. He asked Mr Whyms to reserve his plea of mitigation.

Judge O’Donnell asked for a probation report to be canvassed before adjourning the case

to engage with the Probation Service. The case was adjourned until a date later this year.